Edgar Stene Prize 2017

The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has officially launched the Edgar Stene Prize competition for 2017! I was incredibly honoured to be announced the winner of the Edgar Stene Prize 2016, and I strongly encourage others to put pen to paper and get involved!

The competition is open to people 16 years and over who are living with one or more rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The prize was established in memory of the late Edgar Stene, the founder and Secretary-General of the Norwegian Rheumatism Association, who also lived with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).

The 2017 prize will be awarded to the winning essay on the topic:

“Time is joint – Joints over time”

“Early diagnosis and access to care in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) – the ideal world and the reality – my personal story”

For many people with RMDs, it can be a long journey to receive the right diagnosis and appropriate treatment for their condition. The competition invites entrants to write about their personal experience, comparing to what would happen in an ideal world.

How long did you wait until your diagnosis was confirmed and how did you cope with the uncertainty, pain and fear during that period? Would an early diagnosis have made a difference from how you are feeling now? Do you have access to care and optimal treatment and management of your disease? What would an ideal situation look like and what is your reality?

Essay submission

Entries are accepted across Europe to member organisations of EULAR People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe (PARE). As the UK’s national member organisation of EULAR PARE, the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) will appoint a judging panel to decide upon the one essay which will be submitted to EULAR on behalf of the UK.

If you’re from the UK, please submit all completed essays to Anoushka at projects@arma.uk.net by Friday 23rd December 2016. Each entry should not exceed 2 pages (A4), be typed in Arial point 12 font and be submitted as a Microsoft Word document, along with information about the author, including five or more photographs. Please click the following link to read the full competition rules. If you’re from another country in Europe, you can find out the liaison person with EULAR PARE for your country here.

Announcement of the winning entries

The overall Stene Prize winner, chosen by a EULAR jury, will be announced by 15th March 2017.

The Stene Prize winner will be awarded a prize of € 1,000 and will be invited to attend the Opening Plenary Session of the EULAR Congress in Madrid (14th June 2017). They will be provided with travel to Madrid and hotel accommodation for up to 4 nights, as well as an invitation to the Congress dinner. The runner up will be awarded €700 and the essay in third place will win €300.

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Simon Stones, BSc (Hons), AMRSB, is a Biomedical Sciences graduate and a doctoral researcher in child and family health. He is a passionate activist and ambassador for young people living with invisible illnesses, inspired and empowered by his own journey with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory bowel disease.